Gov Seriake Dickson has inaugurated the Commission of
Enquiry Into Activities of Surveillance Contractors, with the former Chief
Judge, retired Justice Margaret Akpomiemie as its Chairman.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on
Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, availed on Saturday said the Commision
was inaugurated on Friday evening
According to the statement, other members of the
Commission include, SP Whoknows Tiger, Anthony O. Obrike, AC Christiana Okafor
and Ebikake G. Ebikipah while Barrister Dele J. Dele is to serve as its
counsel.
Dickson decried the activities of certain persons and corporate
entities under the guise of surveillance contractors carry out questionable
acts adding that such acts, observed since 2015 had become worrisome.
He said the state has been battling with internal
security challenges, some of which are politically motivated, stressing that
the goal of his government is to make Bayelsa safe even beyond his tenure in
2020.
He expressed concern over unwholesome activities of the
surveillance contractors especially the breach of peace in the affected areas,
submitting that there cannot be
meaningful development in the atmosphere of crisis.
He said the Commission is saddled with the task of
investigating reports of incidence affecting persons and properties and other
unwholesome activities of surveillance contractors engaged by oil and oil
servicing companies.
The Commission has
full powers and authority to hold public hearings.
Dickson queried the way security agencies supervise
surveillance contractors.
The governor noted that the primary interest of the state
government is the stability and peace in the various communities amid reports
of communities being destabilized by activities of surveillance contractors.
“From 2015 till now we have noticed, read, heard and seen
the activities of certain persons and corporate entities who say they are
surveillance contractors.
“They have been operating and reporting to people this
state does not know but they are operating here.
“The activities they are carrying out, no one knows what
they are doing, who are they reporting to, what is the scope of their
engagement by the oil companies and their services.
“How properly are they supervised even by the security
agencies themselves, this state has primary interest in the stability and peace
of our communities.
“This state is concerned about claims and reports of the fractions of the rights of our people,
reports and claims of communities being destabilized .
“So we are at a level when the state wants to
comprehensively examine who are these people, where are they working, who has
contracted them to do what, what are their activities, how many people they
engaged.
“We are interested in their identity, is it criminals
gathering together and being empowered for what purpose,” Dickson said.
.
Terms of reference, the Commission include to determine
the identity and numbers of surveillance contractors, their composition of
staff, their location, and their contracting of oil and all servicing firms in
the state.
It also include, the nature and effect of the activities
and operation of surveillance contractors engaged by oil and oil servicing
companies and their impact on the overall security condition in various
communities.
Also, it is to determine the identities of persons and
property, if any, affected as a consequence of their activities or operations,
the involvement of any other persons or entities
The Commission is expected to recommend measures to ensure
that the operations of surveillance contractors at oilfields in Bayelsa are not
in violation of any extant law or do not violate the rights of citizens of the
state.
The Commission is expected to make recommendation and do
any such lawful act for the purpose of giving effect to or that may be
incidental to the foregoing terms of reference.
It is required to submit its findings and reports along
with its recommendations not later than 21 days from its first sitting
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